Systems and methods for detecting a patch cord end connection

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for detecting a patch cord connection are presented. The insertion of a patch cord into a device jack physically closes a circuit, thereby permitting determination of the patch cord connection. The connection of only one side of a patch cord to a jack is able to be determined. In addition, a particular jack with which a patch cord is connected is able to be determined.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/706,029, filed Aug. 8, 2005, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, thisapplication is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/265,316,filed Nov. 2, 2005, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/624,753, filed Nov. 3, 2004,both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Related technical fields include patch cord systems.

BACKGROUND

FIGS. 1-3 show the current connecting hardware technology in 9th wirepatch cord management systems. 9th wire systems are disclosed forexample in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/423,826, filed Jun. 13,2006, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/690,149, filed Jun. 14, 2005, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety. As shown in FIG. 1,a typical 9th wire patch cord 150 includes a patch plug 140 that may beinserted into a patch jack 145 of a panel 130. The patch cord alsoincludes a 9th wire 115 connected to a 9th wire cord contact 115. Wheninserted, the patch plug 140 electrically connects to the patch jack145, thereby allowing communication from the patch cord 150 to the panel130. Furthermore, when inserted, the 9th wire cord contact 115 connectsto the 9th wire panel contact 120.

As shown in the simplified top views of FIGS. 2 and 3, upon connection,the 9th wire cord contact 115 of the 9th wire 110 may be introducedbetween a first portion 120 a and a second portion 120 b of the 9th wirepanel contact 120. When introduced, the 9th wire cord contact 115 formsan electrical connection with the 9th wire panel contact 120. As aresult of the electrical connection, the 9th wire 110 is electricallyconnected to a first transceiver 300.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, an opposite end of the 9th wire cordincludes a second 9th wire cord contact 116. The second 9th wire cordcontact 116 of the 9th wire 110 may be introduced between a firstportion 121 a and a second portion 121 b of a second 9th wire panelcontact connected to a second panel 131. When introduced, the second 9thwire cord contact 116 forms an electrical connection with second the 9thwire panel contact. As result of the electrical connection, the 9th wire110 is electrically connected to a second transceiver 301.

The above systems and methods for determining where each plug of a patchcord is connected rely on the transceivers 300, 301 communicating witheach other. Thus, when both plugs 140 of a patch cord 150 are insertedtheir respective panels 130, 131, an electrical circuit is formed andthe transceivers 300, 301 can communicate with each other. When eitherplug 140 of a patch cord 150 is removed from its corresponding patchjack 145, the 9^(th) wire circuit is broken and the transceivers 300,301 cannot communicate with each other. As a result, the onlyconclusions the system can make are that both plugs of a patch cord havebeen installed or that one end of a patch cord has been removed.

Some conventional systems and methods for determining whether a patchcord is connected have attempted to use complicated plug sensors such aselectromagnetic radiation (visible light) transceivers, magneticdetectors, code reading sensors, and physical sensors. See, for example,U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,424,710; 6,222,908; 6,285,293; and 6,350,148. However,these systems rely on non-electrical sensors and are not for use with9th wire patch cord systems.

SUMMARY

The above systems and methods for determining whether a patch cord isconnected have at least one or more of the following problems. First,the system cannot electrically detect when only one side (plug) of apreviously un-connected patch cord is inserted into a jack. Second, thesystem cannot electrically detect when both sides of a previouslyconnected patch cord have been removed.

Accordingly, it is beneficial to provide systems and methods fordetecting a patch cord connection that can simply and reliably determinethe above and in addition determine when only one side of a patch cordis connected to a jack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary implementations will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional patch cord and panel;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified top view of a conventional 9th wire and 9thwire panel contact;

FIG. 3 shows a simplified top view of a conventional 9th wire and two9th wire panel contacts;

FIG. 4 shows a simplified top view of an exemplary 9th wire connectiondetection system;

FIG. 5 shows a simplified top view of an exemplary 9th wire and 9th wirepanel contact;

FIG. 6 shows a simplified side view of an exemplary 9th wire and 9thwire panel contact; and

FIG. 7 shows a simplified front view of an exemplary 9th wire panelcontact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY IMPLEMENTATIONS

FIG. 4 shows a simplified top view of an exemplary 9th wire connectiondetection system according to an exemplary implementation of theprinciples described herein. For convenience, only the 9th wire andassociated 9th wire panel contacts are shown; the general patch cord,including the patch plug, is not shown. As shown in FIG. 4, the 9th wire410 terminates with a first and a second 9th wire cord contact 415, 416.Each of the 9th wire panel contacts 420, 421 have two portions, a firstportion 420 a and a second portion 420 b for the first 9th wire panelcontact 420 and a first portion 421 a and a second portion 421 b for thesecond 9th wire panel contact 421. Unlike the above 9th wire systemshown in FIGS. 1-3, the first and second portions 420 a, 420 b of thefirst 9th wire panel contact 420 are normally electrically isolated fromeach other. Similarly, the second portions 421 a and 421 b of the second9th wire panel contact 421 are normally electrically isolated from eachother. The electrical isolation may occur from a physical separationbetween each first portion 420 a, 421 a and the corresponding secondportion 420 b, 421 b.

Each of the first portions 420 a, 421 a are electrically connected torespective connectivity detectors 460, 461. Similarly, each of thesecond portions 420 b and 421 b are electrically connected to therespective connectivity detectors 460, 461. As a result each panel 430,431 of the 9th wire system contains an open circuit. For example, thefirst panel 430 includes an open circuit beginning at the first portion420 a of the first 9th wire panel contact. As shown in FIG. 4, thecircuit continues to the connectivity detector 460 and returns to thesecond portion 420 b of the first 9th wire panel contact.

As a result of the 9th wire panel contact's location, when a patch plugof a patch cord is inserted into a jack, the 9th wire cord contact,e.g., 9th wire cord contact 415 shown in FIG. 4, is introduced betweenthe first portion 420 a and second portion 420 b of the 9th wire panelcontact. It should be appreciated that the 9th wire cord contact 415 maybe made from any suitable electrically conductive material. As a resultof the 9th wire cord contact 415 being introduced between the firstportion 420 a and second portion 420 b of the 9th wire panel contact420, the circuit including the first portion 420 a, the second portion420 b, and the connectivity detector 460 of the panel 430 is closed.

Each of the connectivity detectors 460, 461 is capable of detecting theopen or closed nature of their respective circuits. Thus, when a 9thwire cord contact 415, 416 is introduced between the respective portions420 a, 420 b, 421 a, 421 b of their respective 9th wire panel contacts,the connectivity detectors will detect that the circuit has been closed.When a connectivity detector 460, 461 detects that a circuit is closed,it concludes that a patch plug has been inserted into its correspondingpatch jack. For example, one or more of the connectivity detectors 460,461 may be connected to a controller (not shown) that monitors thestatus of each connectivity detector 460, 461 to determine whether ornot a patch plug has been inserted into the patch jack that theconnectivity detector 460, 461 is monitoring. Alternatively, one or moreof the connectivity detectors 460, 461 may be combined into a singleconnectivity detector capable of monitoring a plurality of circuits.

Furthermore, the exemplary system is also capable of determining whetherboth ends of a patch cord are plugged into patch jacks. As shown in FIG.4, one of the portions of each 9th wire panel contact (420 a and 420 bin FIG. 4) may be connected to transceivers 400, 401. One or more of thetransceivers may be connected to a controller (not shown). When, forexample, the transceiver 400 is capable of communicating with thetransceiver 401, it may be determined that one end of a patch cord isinserted into the patch jack corresponding to the transceiver 400 andthe other end of the patch cord is inserted into the patch jackcorresponding to the transceiver 401.

FIGS. 5-7 show an exemplary structure of a 9th wire panel contact 520and 9th wire cord contact 515. FIG. 5 shows the 9th wire panel contact520 and 9th wire cord contact 515 from above, FIG. 6 shows the 9th wirepanel contact 520 and 9th wire cord contact 515 from the side, and FIG.7 shows the 9th wire panel contact 520 from the front.

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the exemplary 9th wire panel contact 520 mayinclude a first portion 520 a, a second portion 520 b, and a thirdportion 520 c. Each of the first portion 520 a, second portion 520 b,and third portion 520 c may be arranged such that when viewed from thefront or side (FIGS. 6 and 7) the first portion 520 a may be locatedbetween the second portion 520 b and third portion 520 c, and each ofthe first portion 520 a, second portion 520 b, and third portion 520 cmay be substantially parallel. As used herein, the term “substantiallyparallel” is intended to encompass all orientations of the portions 520a, 520 b, 520 c in which the first portion 520 a, second portion 520 b,and third portion 520 c do not touch one another. Accordingly, anorientation in which the first portion 520 a, second portion 520 b, andthird portion 520 c are not geometrically parallel, but are not touchingis contemplated by the term “substantially parallel.”

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when viewed from above, thefirst portion 520 a may intersect and/or cross the second portion 520 band/or third portion 520 c. Thus, when the portions 520 a, 520 b, 520 care made from a resilient conductive material, such as metal wire, and a9th wire contact 515 is introduced between the portions 520 a, 520 b,520 c, thereby separating the portions 520 a, 520 b, 520 c. The portions520 a, 520 b, 520 c, in turn, exert an inward force against the surfaceof the 9th wire contact 515, thereby ensuring an electrical connection.

As shown in FIG. 5, the 9th wire contact 515 may be thin when viewedfrom above to facilitate the 9th wire contact 515 being inserted betweenthe portions 520 a and the portions 520 b, 520 c. Furthermore, as shownin FIG. 6, the 9th wire contact may be tall enough to effectivelycontact each of the portions 520 a, 520 b, 520 c.

The 9th wire contact 515 may include a hole or indentation 517 in whichthe curved overlapping sections of the portions 520 a, 520 b, 520 c maynestle within. As a result of the curved overlapping sections of theportions 520 a, 520 b, 520 c nestling within the hole or indentation517, the curved overlapping sections of the portions 520 a, 520 b, 520 cresist longitudinal motion of the 9th wire contact 515. Accordingly, thecurved overlapping sections of the portions 520 a, 520 b, 520 c mayresist the 9th wire contact 515 from being accidentally inserted too farinto the 9th wire panel contact, or being accidentally removed from the9th wire panel contact without the corresponding patch plug beingremoved form the patch jack.

While various features have been described in conjunction with theexamples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications,variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may bepossible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended tobe illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from thebroad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.

For example, although exemplary configurations of the 9th wire panelcontact and the 9th wire contact are set forth above, differentconfigurations, including those now known and later developed, may beused as long as the 9th wire contact, or any other portion of the patchcord, is configured to close an open in a circuit that exists as aresult of the configuration of the 9th wire panel contact.

Furthermore, although the examples shown in FIGS. 4-7 utilize two orthree portions of the 9th wire panel contact, more than three portionsmay be used as well.

The above examples focus on 9th wire patch cord systems; however, thebroad principles described above are applicable to patch cords havingany number of wires. For example, an eight-wire patch cord may be usedin conjunction with a conductive member attached to the jack that maycomplete an open circuit that exists as a result of the configuration ofa panel contact.

1. A patch panel comprising: a 9th wire panel contact having a contactarea adapted to accept a 9th wire cord contact; and a circuit thatincludes conductors disposed in the contact area, the conductorsconfigured to change a state of electrical contact therebetween uponinsertion of a first end of the 9th wire cord contact therein therebychanging a state of the circuit while a second end of the ninth wirecord contact remains uninserted, the conductors comprising a first,second, and third overlapping portions wherein the first portion islocated between the second and third portions when viewed from a front,a portion of the first conductor crosses a portion of the secondconductor when viewed from a top, and the first portion, second portion,and third portion are substantially parallel when viewed from a side. 2.The patch panel of claim 1 wherein the 9th wire panel contact isconfigured to close an open in the circuit upon insertion of the 9thwire cord contact therein.
 3. The patch panel of claim 1 wherein the 9thwire panel contact comprises a resilient conductive material disposedsuch that the resilient conductive material exerts an inward forceagainst the 9th wire cord contact when the 9th wire cord contact isinserted into the 9th wire panel contact.
 4. The patch panel of claim 1wherein the 9th wire panel contact comprises a resilient conductivematerial disposed such that the resilient conductive material resistslongitudinal motion of the 9th wire cord contact after the 9th wire cordcontact has been inserted a predetermined distance into the contactarea.
 5. The patch panel of claim 1 further comprising a connectivitydetector connected between the conductors, the circuit including theconnectivity detector and the conductors, the connectivity detectoradapted to detect whether the circuit is open or closed.
 6. A patchpanel comprising: a contact area adapted to accept a patch cord contact;conductors disposed within the contact area, the conductors configuredto change a state of electrical contact upon insertion of a first end ofthe patch cord contact into the contact area while a second end of theninth wire cord contact remains uninserted, the conductors comprising afirst, second, and third overlapping portions wherein the first portionis located between the second and third portions when viewed from afront, a portion of the first conductor crosses a portion of the secondconductor when viewed from a top, and the first portion, second portion,and third portion are substantially parallel when viewed from a side;and a connectivity detector connected between the conductors to form acircuit, the connectivity detector adapted to detect whether the circuitis open or closed.
 7. The patch panel of claim 6 wherein the conductorsare configured to close an open in the circuit upon insertion of thepatch cord contact therein.
 8. The patch panel of claim 6 wherein theconductors are disposed such that the conductors exert an inward forceagainst the patch cord contact when the patch cord contact is insertedinto the contact area.
 9. The patch panel of claim 6 wherein theconductors are disposed such that the conductors resist longitudinalmotion of the patch cord contact after the patch cord contact has beeninserted a predetermined distance into the contact area.